Novels2Search
Jade The Symbol of Peace
Smoke and Mirrors

Smoke and Mirrors

Shigaraki scratched at his neck, Irritation exuding out of him. Kurogiri was still not back. Giran had promised them some new members, if this had been a set up Giran was going to crumble to dust in his hands. He grabbed a glass from the counter, feeling himself calm down as the glass turned to dust in his hand. He swept the dust off of the counter. He pulled out his phone, sending the 11th unread text to Kurogiri as he paced the floor. Glancing up to still see the screen still showing no signal. Sensei had said he would be busy with a pet project of his, but it has been 2 weeks since then. It was just so unfair, why is it that when he does what his sensei wanted, he gets ignored. . He grabbed at his neck as he felt the itch return. He began to scratch when he saw the purple mist begin to appear across the room, He straightened his posture attempting to appear more menacing. Curious to see who Giran had brought them.

Meanwhile…

Shota tried to drown out the incessant noise of his students. All of them excited for their internships, all of them carrying around bags of their equipment. He had to admit he was proud of his new students. Within the first two weeks Izuku had gotten Majima’s problem child to reinvent a couple of the more.. Problematic Hero costumes. Hagakure was having a costume be made from their hair. It wasn’t done yet but he hoped it’d be done before the final exams. Yaoyoruzu was getting the same treatment, meaning she could make items from any part of her body without fear of ripping her costume. And whilst the boy hadn’t convinced Todoroki to change his costume, he could see the boy trying his best.

He cleared his throat, using his quirk to quiet his students. “Now you should all know you will all be representing UA this next week. So try to not mess up. And whilst none of you are official heroes, there is a chance you might have to fight villains.” A grim silence filled the station, his students already all too familiar with villains. “But you will only engage if given permission from your Mentor. Make sure you follow their instructions completely. They are all pros who have much more experience than any of you, got it?”

He watched as his students nodded in affirmation. He sighed in relief, hoping to whatever god there was out there that his students wouldn’t get themselves into trouble. One of his students raised their hand, it was Shinsou. He nodded. “Sensei, where is Is Midoriya.” all of the students murmured out half hearted agreements. “Midoriya is currently under the rat’s tutelage, I’m sure they are plotting their takeover of Japan as we speak.” he had joked in his usual dry tone.

Some of his students eyes widened at that

“Training under Nezu? That’s metal.”

“No way, he’s so scary”

“As if.”

After they had calmed down, Shota had begun to shepherd them into the correct trains, Going over the rules one more time with each of them. Until the station was just him and Shinsou.

Shinsou “So where are we going?”

Shota stepped up to the final train stepping on and sitting down in the most isolated corner of the train “To an underground agency in Hosu, There I will train you in some sort of weapons training. Since as someone without a combat quirk, you will need one to have an edge.” The boy seemed to get a little more excited at the prospect “Like your capture scarf?” Shouta nodded, ignoring the small squeal he heard from the boy. “We will try out every type of weapon., including the capture scarf.” He chose to rest his eyes, laying back in the train. Ignoring the fanboy expression on his students' faces. He was Eraserhead, he didn’t have any fans. “I can use the capture scarf” he heard the boy whisper as he felt the headache already set in as the train began to leave the station.

Outside the Endeavor Agency

Izuku yawned, they had left before dawn, as per Nezu’s request, they were currently Posted outside the Endeavor agency, enjoying some tea. “So Jade, do you know why we are here?”

“I assume it’s to get more information on Endeavor, Although why it’s in person I’m not sure”

Nezu sipped his tea “It’s because I fear our Number one hero is going on a suicide mission, He is going after Stain after all”

Izuku nearly choked in surprise “You mean the hero killer? The one known for taking out any pro that comes his way?”

Nezu nodded “It seems Our Number one is trying to up his popularity by taking out the seemingly uncatchable Stain.”

Izuku nodded, taking a sip of his tea. “If he can take down such a villain, he can prove he deserved the mantle All Might once held.”

Nezu tailed wagged “People are desperate for another symbol, something to cling on to. But if Endeavor becomes that symbol..”

Izuku’s eyes widened “He’d be untouchable, If he fell at that point, society would crumble.”

Nezu nodded “The HPSC would do anything in their power to ensure they don’t lose another symbol.”

Meanwhile in the Endeavor agency

Shoto entered the agency, noting the surprisingly empty lobby, usually full of reporters or his sidekicks. Passing the Front Clerk, who gave a weary smile. He suspected she wouldn’t last that long. She didn’t seem like she could take the brunt of his father’s temper. He walked into the empty hallway, making a conscious effort to not look at the training grounds. Ignoring the call of one of the sidekicks (Onima his mind supplied) as he passed. He was surprised his father took on Onima, the man was very plain looking, purple hair, a bland face and an unoriginal costume. But he had to guess the man’s quirk was the main reason why the man was extremely resistant to heat, making him someone his father didn’t have to worry about hitting on the battlefield, he did have over 30 sidekicks afterall, and whilst his father liked to work alone, he used them to do jobs he didn’t like. Shoto entered Endeavor's office, the room was huge, bigger than a local grocery store. Most of the room was bare, save for a couple couches huddled in the center of the room and his father’s desk. It was a rather bland thing, aside from the scorch marks that littered the top of it. He walked up to his father’s desk, each step echoing throughout the space as his father stared at him, the flames coming from his suit being the only light in the room. Todoroki had all but been forced to go on this internship, his father using his influence to make most of his offers have last minute complications.

Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more.

“Ah Shoto, I see you made the right decision.”

Shoto stared at his old man, who had a serious expression on his face “Not like I had much of a choice.”

His father smiled , “ Who better to teach you how to use your fire than your father?”

“I told you already, I’m not going to use your fire” he had thought long and hard on what Izuku had said, those words had almost struck a chord in Todoroki, but he couldn’t shake of the feeling of it being connected to his father, and he refused to be anything like the man.

This seemed to upset his father, who’s expression dropped to one of frustration. “How much longer will you keep up this childish rebellion Shoto, You need my fire.”

Shoto kept his blank expression “I will prove that I don’t need your quirk to be better than you.”

This seemed to anger his father more, who slammed his desk with a fiery fist “ You have done nothing but sully our family name, Losing to a null of all things! You wouldn’t make it a day against a real villain.”

Todoroki didn’t react to his father’s taunting “Midoriya had beaten every hero student that day, Losing to him was an honor.”

Flames erupted from his father, enveloping the man’s entire face. Before just as quickly the flames calmed down. “If you are so capable, then how about you come with me on my next mission? '' Shoto looked into his father’s eyes, noting the barely hidden rage. “What mission is that''

His father stood up, marching to the exit “You’ll find out”

A few hours ago in Hosu.

Giran stared down the man that had managed to track him down, He stood menacingly in front of him, blades drawn. His red scarf flowing in the slight breeze. He looked around the alley for any routes of escape. The man standing before him could kill him easier than Giran could sell a product, He had to use his main weapon. His charm. “Ah Hero Killer Stain, why would you bless a lowly broker like me with your presence.” he flashed one of his famously devilish grins. Show no hint of fear, these types can smell it.

“I want something from you scum”

Giran eyed up the villain, his eyes those of a fanatic. He had to be careful here. One wrong step and he would be nothing more than a bloodstain on the ground. “I can perform almost any service, for the right price.” Giran’s breath caught as he felt a blade against his throat.

“I need to meet the League Of Villains. I’ve heard you are the main broker they go through. Do this for me and I won’t cut you down where you stand.”

Giran pushed the blade down gently, trying to ease the tension in the air.. “Lucky for you they are looking for recruits right now. I can set up a meeting time and spot for you if you’d like”

The man sheathed his blades, looking at the man in disgust. “ I’d like it to be done today, I have more fakes to smite.”

Giran smiled, a demanding customer, this was something he could deal with “I’ll see if they’re open, I can’t promise anything though,”

The killer nodded “I’ll find you in a few hours, I expect news by then”

Giran nodded, the man looked at him, inspecting for any cracks before climbing the nearest fire escape and disappearing into the early morning sun

He quickly called the number he was given by the Shigaraki . “Who would this be?”

“This is Giran, I have someone willing to join, I don’t think Shigaraki will be disappointed in this one.”

“Who would that be?”

Giran sighed “Stain, the man didn’t seem like the biggest fan of brokers but he was definitely interested in you all. Although I’d be cautious, the man is a fanatic.”

He heard the man hum in agreement “ Should be ok to send him over. I’ll expect him at our designated spot?”

“Yes, a few hours from now, I’ll send a message when he’s there”

Back in the present.

A man entered through the portal, someone Tomuru recognized from his days spent on forums dedicated to the underground. Someone who had recently gained a lot of media attention. His ragged red scarf and signature white mask. Covered in blades from head to toe. “Stain.” he said with a hint of bitterness. This was the man who was stealing his spotlight, The media already all but moved on from All Might’s death. Kurogiri who was the diplomatic member of the LOV spoke “So I heard you wanted to join the League of Villains, care to tell us why?”

The man eyed up the bar, noting the two doors. Before turning his attention back at them with a look of pure malice. Kurogiri was the first to react, putting a portal in front of Tomuru’s face as a knife went flying at him. The man jumped out of the way as a portal opened up behind him, sending the very same knife right to where his head had been. barely missing him. Stain unsheathed both his swords, charging towards Tomuru, launching several knives at both parties. “You destroyed the symbol, The only true hero I have seen." he slashed at Tomuru, who attempted to dodge, going to grab a hold of his blade, only to get nicked in the shoulder by the other blade. Tomuru was about to charge when he felt his body go numb, falling to the floor as Stain licked his blade. “I’ll sleep easy, knowing that I didn’t stain my hands with the blood of those with potential.” he raised his blade as a million thoughts traveled through Tomuru’s head.

Where is Sensei, he wouldn’t let me die., would he.

I never beat that level of Super Celebrity Man

What is even the point of this?

I’m gonna die before I was ever useful enough.

Before he felt himself fall through a portal, landing face up, staring right at the television…. Video OFF

Sensei is gonna save us

Kurogiri “That’s enough of this”

He heard the sound of blade hitting flesh, before silence entered the bar.

He wished he could just see what was happening “Kurogiri are you alright?”

A second passed, a heavy feeling he didn’t recognize entered his body. Kurogiri couldn’t have lost, he always knew what to do. Memories of Kurogiri taking care of the boy flashed in his mind as he stared at the screen.. That time Kurogiri had taken him to that abandoned amusement park, Warping in candy and prizes for him. Or the only time he had seen Kurogiri lie to Sensei, Tomuru had broken one of sensei’s most prized possessions by accident, a green medallion. Kurogiri had lied to the man, saying he had done it himself. Sensei had Kurogiri teleport them away. Kurogiri had come back extra silent the next day.

He was shaken out of his thoughts by a sigh “It seems that we might not be able to trust that Giran.”

Tomuru had felt a deep relief, which was quickly taken over with rage. “We’ll get that traitor back later, first we have to teach this Stain a lesson.”

He waited on the floor for a moment. “You’re Paralyzed too aren’t you”

Kurogiri let out a soft laugh “HE got me right in my torso. Alas appears his quirk doesn’t have a distance element to it. As soon as I closed the portal I went limp.”

Damn cheat, I’ll show you what a boss killer looks like.

“Ah how does… oh I see you had a fight, don’t tell me it was that bad.”

You didn’t just arrive.. But why would you lie?

“No Sensei”

A hum was heard from the other side. “I see, then I shall be on my way”

Tomuru scrambled to say something “Wait Sensei!”

“What is it, Tomura? The man said in a half hearted tone, as if entertaining a troublesome child.

“I would like to request some Nomu”

There was a long pause, as if the man was pondering the request

“Under one condition, A little birdy has told me that a troublesome pest will be in the same area as your little grudge, I’d like you to capture him.”

Tomoras' eyes went wide. Another request? Was his sensei finally seeing how useful he was?

“Of course sensei, who is that?”

“Why I’m sure you remember him, he did win the sports festival after all. And I got the perfect Nomu to find him. The thing practically exploded with excitement when it saw him”